'Ishtiqa' prayers seeking rains performed at Aligarh University

Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh), July 26 (ANI): A large number of people of the Muslim faith on Saturday offered 'Ishtiqa' or, special prayers seeking an end to the prolonged dry spell from the God, which is affecting general life here.

Organised at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), students, professors and local residents, participated in the prayers seeking divine intervention for a good monsoon ahead, which is essential for agriculture and otherwise.

The Ishtiqa, or rain prayers, is offered in seclusion, away from population, wherein people seek forgiveness for their ill deeds and pray to God for rains, and to put an end to their miseries.

"This is the 'ishtiqa' namaz, meaning prayer for rain. This is a special namaz that is offered far from population, in an 'Idgah', mosque or in an open space, people seek forgiveness for their bad deeds, and pray to god for rains and satiate the parched land," said Mohammed Zahid, a professor at the Aligarh Muslim University.

Irregular pattern of rains and delay in monsoon has made people concerned different parts of the country, as the largely agriculture based economy is influenced by rains.

Farm production depends heavily on the timely arrival of rains.

The monsoon weather phenomenon usually covers the entire country by mid-July to indicate the overall trends of India's GDP. But this time the delayed monsoon has left people concerned. by Devender (ANI)